The DOI matches its Crossref record; 24 of the 24 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Genetic and Environmental Sources of Covariation Between Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Neuroticism
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The authors examined the sources of covariation between generalized anxiety disorder and the personality trait of neuroticism. Because women have higher levels of neuroticism and twice the risk of lifetime generalized anxiety disorder of men, gender-specific effects were also explored. METHOD: Lifetime generalized anxiety disorder and neuroticism were assessed in more than 8,000 twins from male-male, female-female, and opposite-sex pairs through structured diagnostic interviews. Sex-limited Cholesky structural equation models were used to decompose the correlations between generalized anxiety disorder and neuroticism into genetic and environmental components, including sex-specific factors. RESULTS: Genetic correlations between generalized anxiety disorder and neuroticism were high and differed (nonsignificantly) between men and women (1.00 and 0.58, respectively). When nonsignificant gender differences were removed from the models, correlations between generalized anxiety disorder and neuroticism were estimated at 0.80 (95% confidence interval=0.52-1.00). The individual-specific environmental correlation between generalized anxiety disorder and neuroticism was estimated at 0.20 for both genders. CONCLUSIONS: There is substantial overlap between the genetic factors that influence individual variation in neuroticism and those that increase liability for generalized anxiety disorder, irrespective of gender. The life experiences that increase vulnerability to generalized anxiety disorder, however, have only modest overlap with those that contribute to an individual's level of neuroticism.
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“Individuals with neuroticism tend to be more prone to developing anxiety [30,31,32].”
From The Effect of Anxiety and Nutritional Habits on the Body Distortion of Athletes. (2025) · cites this paper as [31]
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Cited by
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“Extensive evidence indicates these constructs are strongly heritable (e.g., Fanous, Gardner, Prescott, Cancro, & Kendler, 2002; Fulker, 1981; Hettema, Prescott, & Kendler, 2004; Tellegen et al., 1988; Viken, Rose, Kaprio, & Koskenvuo, 1994) and stable over time (Costa & McCrae, 1988; Kasch,…”
A Population-Based Twin Study of the Relationship Between Neuroticism and Internalizing Disorders
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BackgroundResultThe error-related negativity (ERN) and psychopathology: Toward an endophenotype
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Metadata
- Authors
- Hettema, J. M., Prescott, C. A., & Kendler, K. S.
- Affiliations
- Virginia Commonwealth University (US)
- Venue
- American Journal of Psychiatry
- Published
- 2004-09-01
- Volume
- 161
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1581-1587
- ISSN
- 0002-953X (ISSN-L)
- 1535-7228
- OpenAlex
- W2079459508
- Cited by
- 224
- References
- 24
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 16.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01AA009095, AA-09095)
- National Institute of Mental Health (K08MH066277, R01MH040828, MH 40828, MH/AA/DA-49492)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA11287, R01DA011287)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
- Keywords
- generalized anxiety disorder, neuroticism, personality traits, genetic correlation, environmental correlation, sex differences, twin studies, heritability
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anxiety Disorders, Diseases in Twins, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Genetic, Neurotic Disorders, Personality, Personality Inventory, Phenotype, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Social Environment, Twins, Dizygotic, Twins, Monozygotic, Genetic Variation, Genetic Predisposition to Disease
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